{"id":517,"date":"2024-12-03T13:45:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T21:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/?page_id=517"},"modified":"2025-06-07T14:03:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T21:03:34","slug":"keynote-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/keynote-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Keynote Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-517\" data-postid=\"517\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-517 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    \t\t\t\t<div  data-css_id=\"cowj576\" data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row fullwidth_row_container tb_cowj576 tb_first tf_w\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"builder_row_cover tf_abs\"><\/span><span class=\"tb_row_frame_wrap tf_overflow tf_abs\" data-lazy=\"1\"><span class=\"tb_row_frame tb_row_frame_bottom in_front tf_abs tf_hide tf_overflow tf_w\"><\/span><\/span>\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_mdfi578 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_rekt109   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n\t    <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t<h1 style=\"letter-spacing: normal;text-align: center\">#OTESSA25\u00a0<br>Keynote Speakers<\/h1>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_c9kw576 tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column tb_jhtz643 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_8i17488 tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_4yfu488 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_gsay488   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n\t    <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center\">Don&#8217;t miss this opportunity to hear from an inspiring lineup of scholars and practitioners as they dive into our conference theme: <em>Reframing Togetherness<\/em>. These exceptional voices are the first of our confirmed keynote speakers, and there\u2019s more excitement to come\u2014stay tuned for additional announcements! Be part of the conversation as we explore fresh perspectives on building connection and collaboration.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_0k9v94 tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_2vrw94 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top gutter-none tb_col_count_2 tb_8c0m94\">\n\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column col4-2 tb_dy8r95 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_s6tx470 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/04\/Jean-Paul-Restoule-e1743774574120.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"512\" title=\"Jean-Paul Restoule\" alt=\"University of Victoria\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJean-Paul Restoule\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Victoria \t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_t92v203 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1gb_IjgCnq1PoxpU0ffGLRde3hNB7Vr_-\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jean-Paul Restoule\u00a0<br>OTESSA Keynote June 6 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Considerations for Indigenous Centred\u00a0<br>Online Course Design<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_hdbv937 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><h4>Presenting Onsite in Victoria<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jean-Paul Restoule is an Anishinaabe scholar and educator. He is concerned with bringing Indigenous worldviews to a wide audience and infusing Indigenous perspectives into mainstream practice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He is currently leading a study on how to centre Indigenous pedagogy and ways of knowing and being in online learning environments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jean-Paul is also investigating what motivates educators to incorporate Indigenous perspectives in their teaching practice and how teacher candidates and new teachers can best develop the knowledges, confidence and motivation to meaningfully include Indigenous knowledges and pedagogies in their classrooms.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_v4fv116 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/05\/PeterScott.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"Peter Scott\" alt=\"Commonwealth of Learning (COL)\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPeter Scott\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    Commonwealth of Learning (COL)\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_tohv996 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1UepCVou8sv6h03YqEPXol7XWpJD9CY9B\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peter Scott OTESSA Keynote June 2 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Multi-Laterally Open: A Commonwealth Story<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_stjb429 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">Professor Peter Scott is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).<br><br>His career reflects a deep commitment to open and distance learning, characterised by innovative leadership in various academic and administrative roles. He commenced his career in academia as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sheffield, UK. His expertise in open learning innovation was further honed during a 20-year tenure at The Open University, UK, where he directed The Knowledge Media Institute, specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Education. In 2015, Professor Scott joined the University of Technology Sydney in Australia as Pro Vice-Chancellor, after which he became the President of Athabasca University, Canada in 2022.<br><br>Across all his roles, he has been a pioneering force in educational change, focusing on new modes of learning and teaching, particularly in the digital realm. His work has significantly contributed to the global transformation of education through technology.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_liqz688 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_19yk95 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/01\/VeletsianosG-2024-George-Veletsianos-e1736618175210.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"George Veletsianos\" alt=\"University of Minnesota, Curriculum and Instruction\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGeorge Veletsianos\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Minnesota, Curriculum and Instruction\n\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_vjyx613 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1nhmp5S8aRKndHQOcZgjNNkfbotDX00Mb\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">George Veletsianos\u00a0<br>OTESSA Keynote June 5 Video Part 1<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1DcfxDmrYw8vNadGgUTPaVYO81L-HwSg4\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">George Veletsianos\u00a0<br>OTESSA Keynote June 5 Video Part 2<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">What Might\/Could\/Should Education\u00a0<br>Look Like in 2035?<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_f9da811 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">Dr. George Veletsianos is Professor in the Learning Technologies program at the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where he holds the Bonnie Westby Huebner Chair in Education and Technology. His research focuses on (1) the design, development, and evaluation of online and blended learning environments, (2) the study of learning experiences and participation in emerging online environments, and (3) learning futures.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_bh5m813 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/04\/TomReevesHeadshot-1.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"1400\" title=\"Thomas Reeves\" alt=\"University of Georgia\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThomas Reeves\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Georgia \t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_5iqi7 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1OoTWCCrzc9XroWz2c5t7IN955-BQSMQd\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thomas Reeves OTESSA Keynote May 29 Video<br><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Reframing Togetherness: Shifting our Focus from Technology to Problems<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_it6u168 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-family: Poppins, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 1em\">Thomas (Tom) C. Reeves, PhD is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at The University of Georgia. He was a Fulbright Lecturer in Peru and has given invited presentations in the USA and more than 30 other countries. He is the former editor of the Journal of Interactive Learning Research, and the author of nearly 200 scholarly papers. His co-authored books include Interactive Learning Systems Evaluation, A Guide to Authentic E-Learning, Conducting Educational Design Research (two editions), MOOCs and Open Education Around the World, and MOOCs and Open Education in the Global South. His research interests encompass educational technology in developing countries, educational design research, medical and public health education, and prison education. He currently lives at The Spires at Berry College in Rome, Georgia with his wife, Patricia M. Reeves, Professor Emerita of Social Work at The University of Georgia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dr. Reeves will join OTESSA virtually to discuss themes he has published on recently such as focusing our research and practical scholarship on problems and needs instead of things or tools. His keynote helps to frame our efforts in the Santa Fe colloquium to develop a strategic framework for research focused on grand challenges related to instructional design and educational technologies.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_9zwy420 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_sf5a915 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/03\/bradhokansonphoto2014a.jpeg\" width=\"150\" height=\"960\" title=\"Brad Hokanson\" alt=\"University of Minnesota\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBrad Hokanson\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Minnesota \t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_0ut5785 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><h4>Presenting Onsite ONLY in Santa Fe<br>No Recording<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Brad Hokanson is a professor of Design at the University of Minnesota. He has a diverse academic record, including degrees in art (Carleton), architecture (Minnesota), urban design (Harvard), and received his PhD in Instructional Technology from the University of Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He teaches in the area of creative problem solving and has published research in the fields of creativity and educational technology. He won his college\u2019s awards for outstanding teaching in 2002 and 2008, and served as the Mertie Buckman Professor of Design Education from 2016\u20132021. His most recent book on the development of creativity is Developing Creative Thinking in Learners. He is currently the Director of Graduate Studies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He served as President of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology in 2017 and as Interim President in 2020. Visits to Buenos Aires, when possible, support his Argentine tango habit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He has recently completed research on the relationship between creativity and achievement in school children, comparing measured creativity with standardized achievement scores. He is now running his fourth massive online course on creativity for the University of Minnesota with an enrollment of over 212,000. Two previous courses each enrolled over 52,000 learners.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column col4-2 tb_dl0k94 last\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_yb2m910 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/01\/HelenB-b_w-Helen-Beetham.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"Helen Beetham\" alt=\"University of Manchester\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHelen Beetham\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Manchester\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_ve9f625 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><div class=\"NC79P\" style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1JiKREj-4icwd6DKOg55xtlnIYS4ia_V6\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Helen Beetham, Catherine Cronin &amp; Laura Czerniewicz OTESSA Keynote June 4 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Addressing Challenges to Open Education in an Era of Authoritarianism and Big Tech<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_hn9250 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><div class=\"NC79P\" style=\"text-align: left\">Helen is a Lecturer in Digital Education and a researcher, writer and consultant with more than 25 years experience in the field. Her digital capabilities framework is widely used in the UK and internationally, and her edited book Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age has been a standard text through three editions. She writes on edtech from a critical, feminist and materialist perspective, and produces a popular blog and podcast, Imperfect Offerings, recommended by the Guardian\/Observer as &#8216;one of the sharpest and most thoughtful&#8217; resources on AI.<\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_6pqp405 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_ms9395 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/01\/C-Cronin-Catherine-Cronin-scaled.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" title=\"Catherine Cronin\" alt=\"Independent\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCatherine Cronin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    Independent\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_8bna68 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><div class=\"NC79P\" style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1JiKREj-4icwd6DKOg55xtlnIYS4ia_V6\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Helen Beetham, Catherine Cronin &amp; Laura Czerniewicz OTESSA Keynote June 4 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Addressing Challenges to Open Education in an Era of Authoritarianism and Big Tech<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_3jzl245 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p>Dr. Catherine Cronin is an independent scholar focusing on critical and social justice approaches in digital, open, and higher education. She has worked in the higher education sector for many years, most recently as digital\/open education lead in Ireland\u2019s National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in HE. Catherine has published widely and openly on topics including open education, digital and open education policy, critical literacies, and feminist and social justice approaches \u2013 including, most recently, the book Higher Education for Good: Teaching and Learning Futures (#HE4Good), co-edited with Laura Czerniewicz. A born New Yorker who has made her home in Ireland, Catherine blogs and shares scholarship at CatherineCronin.net.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_jt0553 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_4o0795 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/04\/laura-c-cropped-e1743773451547.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"600\" title=\"Laura Czerniewicz\" alt=\"University of Cape Town, Centre for Innovation in Learning &amp; Teaching\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLaura Czerniewicz\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Cape Town, Centre for Innovation in Learning &amp; Teaching\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_6ywb185 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><div class=\"NC79P\" style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1JiKREj-4icwd6DKOg55xtlnIYS4ia_V6\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Helen Beetham, Catherine Cronin &amp; Laura Czerniewicz OTESSA Keynote June 4 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Addressing Challenges to Open Education in an Era of Authoritarianism and Big Tech<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_u9bn865 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">Laura Czerniewicz was the first director of the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT), at the University of Cape Town, (2014 to 2020) having previously led UCT\u2019s Centre for Educational Technology, OpenUCT Initiative and Multimedia Education Group . Her many roles in education over the years include academic, researcher, strategist, advocate, teacher, teacher-trainer and educational publisher. Threaded through all her work has been a focus on equity and digital inequality. These have permeated her research interests which focus on the changing nature of higher education in a post-digital society and new forms of teaching and learning provision. She plays a key strategic and scholarly role in the areas of blended \/online learning as well as in open education institutionally, nationally and internationally.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_xh1k244 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_kdc0684 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/04\/jwemigwans_full.jpeg\" width=\"150\" height=\"988\" title=\"Jennifer Wemigwans\" alt=\"University of Toronto, OISE\/UT\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJennifer Wemigwans\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Toronto, OISE\/UT\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_a9z48 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1Foe5ny7VFcpYFsumPZJzWn8TJBb8DSkD\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jennifer Wemigwans\u00a0<br>OTESSA Keynote June 5 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">A Digital Bundle<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_ziwv78 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">Jennifer Wemigwans (She\/Her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She teaches Indigenous Knowledge Education courses in the Adult Education &amp; Community Development Program. Dr. Wemigwans is from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She is a new media producer, writer and scholar specializing in the convergence between education, Indigenous Knowledge and new media technologies. Her book, A Digital Bundle: Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Online (2018) explores the prospects of Indigenous Knowledge education and digital projects in networked world.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_z4ox813 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_b3sv238 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/05\/Anatoliy_Gruzd_32_sm-scaled.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"2560\" title=\"Anatoliy Gruzd\" alt=\"Toronto Metropolitan University\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnatoliy Gruzd\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    Toronto Metropolitan University\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_ad9672 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1AFOIPRogTb2l7xijhIOsEgGV77YydPsn\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anatoliy Gruzd OTESSA Keynote June 4 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">From Prompt to Propaganda:\u00a0<br>How Generative AI Fuels Disinformation and Misinformation and What We Must Do<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_86hg602 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">Dr. Gruzd\u2019s interdisciplinary research program aims to advance the public\u2019s understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of social media adoption by investigating how social media platforms are changing the way people and organizations communicate, share (mis)information, and conduct business. Dr. Gruzd specializes in analyzing online communities and social networks, as well as creating novel computational techniques and tools for examining public discourse on social media in various domains. His innovative approach to studying social media has led him to be named a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 in 2015 (renewed in 2020), and his induction into the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2017. In addition to receiving funding from the CRC Program, his research has been supported by all three Tri-Council agencies in Canada: The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module divider -->\n<div  class=\"module tf_mw module-divider tb_cefx318 solid   \" style=\"border-width: 0px;border-color: #ffffff;margin-top: 100px;\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <\/div>\n<!-- \/module divider -->\n<!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_wpwt186 image-center circle  tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/files\/2025\/05\/James-Slotta.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"554\" title=\"James Slotta\" alt=\"University of Toronto, OISE\">\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<div class=\"image-content\">\n\t    \t\t\t<h3 class=\"image-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Slotta\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t    \t    \t\t<div class=\"image-caption tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t    University of Toronto, OISE\t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/image-caption -->\n\t    \t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-content -->\n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_lx52464 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1NcAHmdeCYj8rv77y_-NfQX09sT3NWF1b\/view?usp=drive_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Slotta OTESSA Keynote June 3 Video<\/a><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Critical Action Learning:\u00a0<br>Empowering Students with Meaning and Purpose in 21st Century Classrooms<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_kkgq924 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p style=\"text-align: left\">James P. Slotta holds the President\u2019s Chair in Knowledge Technologies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. A professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Prof. Slotta\u2019s innovative research is internationally acclaimed. His work focuses on technology and education, and has served as the Canada Research Chair in Education and Technology. Prof. Slotta teaches courses in technology, curriculum and instruction, as well as in knowledge media and learning.<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_gzee27 tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_9v2k28 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_xtzw29   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n\t    <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center\">More information will be coming soon! Stay up-to-date by signing up for our newsletter.\u00a0<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_mnhv17 tf_w\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_isio17 first\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- module buttons -->\n<div  class=\"module module-buttons tb_afwo18 buttons-horizontal solid   rounded\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n\t\t<div class=\"module-buttons-item tf_in_flx\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/confirmsubscription.com\/h\/y\/25A1EE7E8D77A58B\" class=\"ui builder_button tf_in_flx green\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe now\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module buttons -->\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>#OTESSA25\u00a0Keynote Speakers Don&#8217;t miss this opportunity to hear from an inspiring lineup of scholars and practitioners as they dive into our conference theme: Reframing Togetherness. These exceptional voices are the first of our confirmed keynote speakers, and there\u2019s more excitement to come\u2014stay tuned for additional announcements! Be part of the conversation as we explore fresh [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":235,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/517"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/235"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=517"}],"version-history":[{"count":83,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1199,"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/517\/revisions\/1199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/otessa.org\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}